Exercise and HIV
Exercise cannot control the HIV infection. However, exercise may help you feel better by reducing stress. Exercise may also help the immune system work better.

Exercise:
Is safe.
Improves strength and endurance.
Improves heart and lung fitness.
May help you feel less tired or fatigued.
Enhances your sense of well-being.
May help stabilize or prevent declines in CD4+ cell counts.
Start exercising while you are healthy, and do your best to find new ways to keep yourself motivated to maintain your exercise program.

The ability of a person who has HIV to improve his or her fitness through training is similar to that of a person who does not have HIV. However, people with HIV may find it harder to continue with a training program because of fatigue or muscle wasting.

Participation in competitive sports does not pose a risk of spreading HIV to other athletes or coaches. In sports in which exposure to blood can occur, the risk of HIV spread is very small. However, if a person (HIV-infected or not) does start to bleed, he or she should be taken out of the game and the wounds should be covered before returning to the game.